Device for producing a tape having a curve, especially a curved flat line compound

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for producing a tape having a curve, especially a curved flat line compound. The inventive device consists of several clamping jaw pairs that are arranged downstream in relation to a weaving device and serve for withdrawing the individual lines. The clamping jaw pairs are moveably arranged along the direction of withdrawal, are driven and can be swivelled. In a preferred embodiment, two clamping jaw pairs are used which can be moved to-and-fro along the direction of withdrawal in an alternating manner and by means of drives that engage on the ends of the clamping jaws. The amplitude of the movement can be changed in an independent manner on both sides. The drive device can be configured as a crank gear system. A crank gear engages on each side of each clamping jaw and the lifting movement of the crank gears of one side can be adjusted in relation to the lifting movement of the crank gears on the remaining side. Different warp threads (e.g. insulated copper lines, pneumatic hoses, reinforcement threads consisting of cord, steel or carbon, waveguide cables etc.) can be processed by means of the inventive device for forming flat cable forms which are particularly used in the aircraft and motor vehicle industries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a bandhaving a curve, especially, a curved flat composite cable, the apparatusbeing comprised of several clamping jaw pairs arranged downstream of aweaving device for withdrawing the individual lines which form thecomposite cable.

DE 198 16 666 A1 discloses the production of a band as woven compositeswith a curve in the plane of the weave. In this reference, an apparatusis also disclosed for the production of curved bands. The disclosedapparatus comprises a weft intake location of a narrow materials loom towhich a gripper mechanism for clamping the warp threads with twogripping clamps is arranged. A clamping jaw pair, hereinafter referredto as grip clamps, is moveable and its jaws are driven and the otherclamping jaw pair is fixed.

In order to weave a curve, the moveable grip clamps are closed tothereby clamp the warp threads, while the fixed grip clamps are opened.Then, the moveable grip clamps are moved about a rotation point, whichleads to the result that the warp threads of the woven composite aremoved during each cycle by an amount which increases from an angle whichis nearer to the rotation point toward an angle of the grip clamps whichis further from the rotation point. A curve is produced in the wovencomposite on the side toward the warp threads which are withdrawn by therelatively shorter amount. At the end of the movement, the fixed gripclamps are closed and the moveable grip clamps are opened and thesemoveable grip clamps return in a direction in opposition to thewithdrawal direction back to their start position.

The course of movement is periodic. A curve is produced whose radius isgiven by the distance of the rotation point from the warp threads andwhose sense of direction or handedness is given by the position to theright or the left of the warp threads relative to the position of therotation point. To produce straight pieces, the moveable grip clamps aremoved in a straight line manner.

The disadvantage of this apparatus is that the withdrawal processproceeds in a start-stop manner, in that, in connection with themovement of the moveable grip clamps back toward their start position,the transport of the warp threads must be abruptly interrupted.Particularly in connection with the working of warp threads ofsubstantial mass, such as insulating electrical lines in comparison topure textile yarns, strong fluctuations occur in the material which maybe propagated up to the line building mechanism in the weaving machineor loom and, in connection with an increasing weft count, the productionof a composite without problems or disturbances is increasingly impactedand is even fully impossible. Moreover, the apparatus permits only avery limited variation of the radii of the curves.

The present invention provides a solution to the challenge of providinga substantially uniform movement of the warp threads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, this challenge is met in that all ofthe clamping jaw pairs are moveable relatively along the withdrawaldirection and are driven and are pivoted.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two clamping jawpairs are arranged which are moveable back and forth along the extent ofthe withdrawal direction in alternating manner by means of a drivemechanism which engages the ends of the clamping jaws, whereby theamplitude of movement of both sides is independently variable.

The drive mechanism can preferably be comprised of a crank drive system,whereby, on each side of each clamping jaw, a crank drive engages andthe stroke of the crank drive of one side relative to the stroke of thecrank drive of the other side is adjustably variable.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pluralityof clamping jaws are arranged on one or more pairs of driven, endlesslycirculating, non-rotatable drive means such that the clamping jaws arearranged in opposing manner by pairs. The clamping jaws comprise startcranks with sloping crank or start surfaces. Start rollers are providedadjacent the drive mechanism which are swingable into the path ofmovement of the start cranks. Elastic return movement elements,especially, spiral springs or flat springs, are preferably arrangedbetween adjacent clamping jaws.

The drive mechanism, which is not extendable, comprises, preferably,roller chains or toothed drive chains. With the deployment of theinventive device, it is possible to use as warp thread differingmaterial in order to meet the most stringent demands of the warp threadcustomer.

The warp threads are, for example, insulating copper lines, hoses forthe conveyance of media and for pneumatic and hydraulic arrangements,armored or reinforced cords or yarns of cord, steel, carbon, or thelike, light conducting cables, and similar materials.

The radii of the curves can be adjusted within a wide range which is notdependent upon the width of the clamping jaws. It is possible, forexample, in correspondence with the demands of the aircraft andcommercial vehicle industries, to finish or produce flat cables.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described with the aid of the hereinafter followingexemplary embodiment in more detail. In the accompanying drawings, it isshown:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the device of the presentinvention with a crank drive,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view of the working principle of the withdrawal device shownin FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a view of the lower portion of a withdrawal device having achain drive,

FIG. 5 is a side view of the withdrawal device shown in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a view of the swing movement of the clamping jaws of awithdrawal device having a chain drive.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device in accordance with the presentinvention in combination with a narrow materials loom. The devicecomprises four clamping jaws 1, 2, 3, 4 of which respective ones arerespectively paired with one another to thereby form two respectivepairs of clamping jaws. Individual lines 5 extend between eachrespective pair of clamping jaws, the individual lines being the warpthreads of a composite cable. Each clamping jaw is travels along abroken line-depicted path 6. A linkage rod 7, 7′, 8, 8′, 9, 9′, 10, 10′engages the end of each clamping jaw to thereby couple the clamping jawto a crank 11, 11′, 12, 12′, 13, 13′, 14, and 14′ (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2).The linkage rods 8′ and 10′ as well as the cranks 12′ and 14′ are notshown. The cranks of the upper clamping jaws 1, 3 are driven via theupper shaft 15 and the cranks of the lower clamping jaws are driven viathe lower shaft 16. An offset of 180° is present between the cranks 11,11′, 12, 12′ for the front clamping jaws 1 and 2 and the cranks 13, 13′,14, and 14 for the back clamping jaws. A weft infeed 17 (compare FIG. 2)is disposed in front of the front clamping jaws 1, 2.

The device operates as follows:

The upper shaft 16 is rotated in a clockwise direction and the lowershaft 16 is rotated in the counter clockwise direction. Due to thisrotational movement, the pair of the front clamping jaws 1, 2 and theback clamping jaws 3, 4 move along the path 6 in alternating manner backand forth.

If a clamping jaw pair reaches the front dead point (adjacent the weftin-feed), the clamping jaw pair closes and engages the individual lines5. At that instant, the other clamping jaw pair reaches the back deadpoint and opens. This operational condition is shown in FIG. 1. Thearrows show the path of movement. The back clamping jaws 3,4 are locatedshortly before the back dead point and are in engagement with theindividual lines 5, while the front clamping jaws 1,2 are locatedshortly before the front dead point and are open.

A curve is produced if the amplitude of movement of the linkage rods(the stroke) on one side of the clamping jaw pairs 1, 2, 3, 4 isdifferent relative to that of the other side. FIG. 3 shows thisoperational condition. In this figure, for the purpose of providing aclearer overview, only the portion above the individual lines 5 isshown. The portion under the individual lines operate synchronously.

As seen in FIG. 3, the linkage rods 7, 9 have, as a result of a shorteradjusted crank 11, 13, a relatively smaller amplitude than the rightlinkage rods 7′, 9′ which are associated with the longer adjusted cranks11′, 13′. The start position of each clamping jaw pair is shown and(shown with a fine line) the end position of each clamping jaw pairwithin a half period of 0 to π.

The right individual lines are drawn off at a relatively greater lengththan the left individual lines. As a function of the size of theamplitude difference, there occurs a certain curve due to the size ofthe difference in the curve radius. During each period, the compositecable is curved through an angle ω. The direction or handedness ofcurvature is determined by the side on which the amplitude in comparisonto the opposed side has a smaller value.

The drive mechanism and the clamp mechanism are configured such that thecurved composite cable can travel sideways in a problem-free manner. Toimprove the intake of the withdrawal force on the individual lines, theclamping jaws can be configured with a profile corresponding to thecircumferential profile of the individual lines.

FIG. 4 shows the lower portion of a withdrawal device having a rollerchain drive. This roller chain drive comprises a lower chain 18. Theclamping jaws 19 are mounted at uniform spacings from one another inpivoting manner to the lower chain 18. The clamping jaws 19 areconnected to one another via spiral springs 20 and are supported againsta press band 21. In addition to the clamping jaws, start cranks 22, 22′are provided. The start cranks have a sloped and bent start surface.Start rollers 23 are provided on the right and left for movement in aswinging manner into the movement path of the start cranks. Theindividual lines 5 (FIG. 5) travel over the lower portion of thewithdrawal device.

In FIG. 5, there is shown a mirror image view of the upper portion ofthe withdrawal device. The upper chain 24 can be seen with the upperclamping jaws 25 which are supported against the upper press band 26.The lower clamping jaws 19 and the upper clamping jaws 25 are arrangedin opposing manner to one another on the chains.

The chains travel in an endless loop in the withdrawal direction. Theyapply the linear withdrawal force on the individual lines. The fixing ofthe beginning of clamping occurs through the two press bands 21, 26 onthe clamping jaws 19, 25. The clamping jaws are arranged, such as shownin FIG. 5, on the clamping line 27 such that the individual lines areclamped at the clamping line 27 between the upper clamping jaws 19 andthe synchronously traveling lower clamping jaws at 25.

FIG. 6 shows the pivot of the clamping jaws. Also here, for the purposeof a clearer overview, only a portion of the lower portion of the drivemechanism is shown. The upper portion of the drive mechanism executesthe same movement in a synchronous manner. The clamping jaws 19, 25engage the individual lines 5 initially parallel to the weft feed intakeat the clamping line. Immediately after the clamping, a clamping jawextends with the right start crank 22′ against the right start roller.In conjunction with a further movement of the chain, the clamping jaw isforced into a pivot movement and, indeed, is pivoted to such an extentthat it eventually slides by the start roller. The position of aclamping jaw is shown during the pivoting and fully pivoted out withcross-hatching.

Due to the coupling between the clamping jaws by means of the spiralsprings 20, those clamping jaws, which lie in the travel direction ofthe chain ahead of the engaged clamping jaw, are also moved as well.Optionally, deployable additional start rollers can be provided as wellfor this purpose. In this manner, it is achieved that the tension in thematerial can be maintained for a longer duration than only during thetime at which it passes the clamping line.

The thus-produced pivoting of the clamping jaws 19, 25 around the startcrank 22′ effects different withdrawal of the materials along the widthof all of the individual lines 5 and thus ensures the creation of acurve.

Different clamping jaw configurations and thereby different curve radiican be achieved through more or less strong backward movement of thestart rollers, as is schematically shown in FIG. 6.

Different senses of directions or handedness occur through the pivotingof the start roller 23 to the opposed side during simultaneous pivotingof the respective opposed start roller.

The clamping is released at a pre-determined distance from the clampline selected with respect to the length of the press bands 21, 26, inthat the press bands end or bend away. The clamping jaws are thenreturned to their start positions by the spiral springs 20.

The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of Germanpriority documents 100 01 333.3 filed Jan. 11, 2000 and PCT/DE01/00230filed Jan. 11, 2001.

The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to thespecific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but alsoencompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Overview of Reference Numbers  1 upper front clamping jaw  2 lower frontclamping jaw  3 upper back clamping jaw  4 lower back clamping jaw  5individual lines  6 paths  7 linkage rod  7′ linkage rod  8 linkage rod 8′ linkage rod  9 linkage rod  9′ linkage rod 10 linkage rod 10′linkage rod 11 crank 11′ crank 12 crank 12′ crank 13 crank 13′ crank 14crank 14′ crank 15 upper shaft 16 lower shaft 17 weft infeed 18 lowerchain 19 upper clamping jaws 20 spiral spring 21 lower press band 22start cams 22′ start cams 23 start roller 24 upper chain 25 upperclamping jaws 26 upper press band 27 clamping line

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for producing a band with a curve,especially, a curved flat composite cable, the apparatus comprising: aplurality of clamping jaw pairs arranged downstream of a web device forwithdrawing the individual lines which form the composite cable, eachrespective pair of clamping jaws being moveable relatively along thewithdrawal direction of the individual lines, drivable between its openand closed positions, and pivotable about an axis generallyperpendicualr to the travel path of the individual lines beingwithdrawn.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two clampingjaw pairs are arranged which are moveable back and forth along theextent of the withdrawal direction in alternating manner by means of adrive mechanism which engages the ends of the clamping jaws, whereby theamplitude of movement of both sides is independently variable.
 3. Anapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism is a crankdrive system, whereby a crank drive engages each side of each clampingjaw and whereby the stroke of the crank drive of one side relative tothe stroke of the crank drive of the other side is adjustably variable.4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of theclamping jaws are arranged on one or more pairs of driven, endlesslycirculating, non-rotatable drive means such that the clamping jaws arearranged in opposing manner by pairs, the clamping jaws include startcranks with sloping surfaces, and start rollers are provided adjacentthe drive mechanism which are swingable into the path of movement of thestart cranks.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein elasticreturn movement elements, especially, spiral springs or flat springs,are arranged between adjacent clamp jaws.
 6. An apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein the drive mechanism, which is not extendable, comprisesroller chains or toothed drive chains.